Leaving Chapati Crumbs To Find Their Way

"Don't worry. I've left crumbs to help us find our way home."

(Do not attempt Everest behind this numbnuts)

I was out running an errand last night and walked by an emporium that sold saris. Let's call it...Singh's Sari Palace... with signs that proclaimed, "You Won't Be Sari About Our Prices," and "Think Twice About Zippers." Actually I made most of that up.

What made me halt in my tracks were the mannequins. On March 30th, The Washington Post had an article entitled, "The Mannequin: More Than Just An Empty Face." It quoted the chairman of Pucci as saying, "If it's the right mannequin for the right merchandise, the mannequin will sell the clothes." Clothier Chico's recently introduced a new mannequin for their stores, and the article quoted Claire Brooks (president of brand consulting company, Model People) saying, "I think they've made a smart move. Chico's is about a fun dreamland of upscale resort wear. The new-and-improved mannequins "have that fun, full-of-personality vibe." Personally, I thought Chico's vibe was "mom jeans" and "Oprah weepers," but what do I know.

Obviously someone needs to talk to Singh's Sari Palace about the marketing impact their mannequins are having on the buying public, because the vibe I picked up was "Who kidnapped these white children and took them to Calcutta?" "....and do Hansel and Gretel need to leave chapati crumbs in their wake to find their way home?"

Why do you keep pulling my finger?